CSCI B481 Interactive Graphics Teaching/Learning Goals


Official course description

P: C343 or H343, MATH M301 or M303. Computer graphics techniques. Introduction to graphics hardware and software. Two-dimensional graphics methods, transformations, and interactive methods. Three-dimensional graphics, transformations, viewing geometry, object modeling, and interactive manipulation methods. Basic lighting and shading. Video and animation methods. Credit given for only one of B481 and B581.

Weekly exercises closely complement lecture topics. The exercises rely heavily upon the use of appropriate languages to test one's understanding of concepts discussed in lecture. While the purpose of the course is not to train programmers in multiple languages, active learning involvement to understand language concepts is best promoted through using the computer which, for this course, translates to implementing programs. More specific information can be obtained by reading the following discussion of course goals or by examining exercises listed as home works on the course syllabus



CSCI C481 Learning Goals

The learning goals of each computer science course strive to capture intended learning outcomes. The goals are expressed using the terms that follow. These terms describe the level of familiarity (most to least) with respect to various kinds of material and procedures.

The B4811 learning goals cover important areas recommended jointly in a report by the Association of Computing Machinery (ACM) and the Computer Society of the IEEE in 1991 for university computing curricula. These international organizations were established to promote academic and professional excellence in the computer sciences. The complete baccalaureate curricula list consists of nine subject areas, of which a portion are covered in this course, primarily those areas which better prepare the student to succeed in subsequent Indiana University Southeast computer science courses and as professional computer scientists. Several supplementary areas are covered that have developed since publication of the curricula report. Many of these subjects listed below will often recur in subsequent courses and at a level requiring further understanding.
Design of B481 to Achieve These Goals

Computer science demands competency in a range of skills. Therefore, students benefit from the guided practice in the environment of a university class. To facilitate this, B481 includes the following:

  1. Students complete weekly assignments aimed at developing the foundational skills and exposure to computer graphics.
  2. Class time is divided between instructor lecture, discussion, and class assignments. Students work in small teams during class to analyze and explain program behavior, suggest improvements, and discuss implementations in other paradigms. Individual student questions serve to guide the class discussion.
  3. Programming exercises are available as Web-pages and are discussed in class when assigned using the pages available to the student.
  4. Most questions arise when students are working on exercises outside of class. Students are encouraged to contact the instructor directly or by emailing their questions and code of the troublesome exercise for guidance.
  5. In recognition that problem solving is often an iterative process, assignments that are less than perfect can be submitted for instructor evaluation, refined and resubmitted for additional credit.

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